Increases personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for seven years. Increases sales and use tax by ¼ cent for four years. Allocates temporary tax revenues 89 percent to K-12 schools and 11 percent to community colleges. Bars use of funds for administrative costs, but provides local school governing boards discretion to decide, in open meetings and subject to annual audit, how funds are to be spent. Guarantees funding for public safety services realigned from state to local governments.

(Hell No! There is no such thing as a temporary tax increase — and people should know to reject any item that is “for the children”. California’s citizens have been played for saps far too long. I am looking forward to the threats about providing basic public safety services, too!)

Proposition 31 –Establishes two-year state budget cycle.

Prohibits Legislature from creating expenditures of more than $25 million unless offsetting revenues or spending cuts are identified. Permits Governor to cut budget unilaterally during declared fiscal emergencies if Legislature fails to act.

(NO. From Left Coast Rebel – Constitution an incredibly anal process for local communities to adopt “Strategic Action Plans” serving such open-ended new age objectives as “community equity” and nudges them into establishing regional governments to push this agenda. The purpose of local governments is to provide basic services, not to pursue utopian four-year plans.)

(A very likely yes: The Goddess of Capitalism always approves of permitting businesses to decide whom to do business with and at what price-point).

Proposition 34 – Repeals death penalty as maximum punishment for persons found guilty of murder and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

Applies retroactively to persons already sentenced to death. Requires persons found guilty of murder to work while in prison, with their wages to be applied to any victim restitution fines or orders against them. Creates $100 million fund to be distributed to law enforcement agencies to help solve more homicide and rape cases. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net savings to the state and counties that could amount to the high tens of millions of dollars annually on a statewide basis due to the elimination of the death penalty. One-time state costs totaling $100 million from 2012-13 through 2015-16 to provide funding to local law enforcement agencies.

(No. In my view, some crimes are so heinous as to warrant death as the best form of justice that humans can dish out. Also, where in the hell do the braniacs in Sacramento think that the $100 million dollar fund is going to come from? Have they discovered a fairy dust factory somewhere in this state? My object in legislation related to the death penalty would be how to expedite the process so the citizens of this good state don’t have to pay for their care and comfort longer than necessary)

Increases criminal penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentences up to 15-years-to-life and fines up to $1,500,000. Fines collected to be used for victim services and law enforcement. Requires person convicted of trafficking to register as sex offender. Requires sex offenders to provide information regarding Internet access and identities they use in online activities. Prohibits evidence that victim engaged in sexual conduct from being used against victim in court proceedings. Requires human trafficking training for police officers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potential one-time local government costs of up to a few million dollars on a statewide basis, and lesser additional costs incurred each year, due to the new mandatory training requirements for certain law enforcement officers. Minor increase to state and local governments on the costs of incarcerating and supervising human trafficking offenders. Unknown amount of additional revenue from new criminal fees, likely not to exceed the low millions of dollars annually, which would fund services for human trafficking victims.

(No. Yes, human traffickers are Satan’s minions and probably deserve the death penalty that a previous proposition is trying to end. My main problem is foisting millions of dollars on local communities to implement the program. The amount is probably an under-estimate, and local governments are going bankrupt all across California. We cannot afford it. I hope my fellow citizens use some fiscal logic, instead of their emotions, when making proposition choices)

Revises three strikes law to impose life sentence only when new felony conviction is serious or violent. Authorizes re-sentencing for offenders currently serving life sentences if third strike conviction was not serious or violent and judge determines sentence does not pose unreasonable risk to public safety. Continues to impose life sentence penalty if third strike conviction was for certain non-serious, non-violent sex or drug offenses or involved firearm possession. Maintains life sentence penalty for felons with non-serious, non-violent third strike if prior convictions were for rape, murder, or child molestation.

(A likely no: Why amend one of the few law enforcement programs that work?)

Proposition 37 – Genetically Engineered Foods. Mandatory Labeling.

Requires labeling on raw or processed food offered for sale to consumers if made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways. Prohibits labeling or advertising such food as “natural.”

(No: Agriculture has been nothing but a series of people genetically modifying plants and animals (look at the origins and development of fruit such as California’s naval oranges and Kobe beef.), Scaring people away from products that may be potentially more cost effective of have a health benefit (see golden rice) gets a big thumbs down from the Goddess of Capitalism) )

Increases personal income tax rates for annual earnings over $7,316 using sliding scale from .4% for lowest individual earners to 2.2% for individuals earning over $2.5 million, ending after twelve years. During first four years, 60% of revenues go to K-12 schools, 30% to repaying state debt, and 10% to early childhood programs. Thereafter, allocates 85% of revenues to K-12 schools, 15% to early childhood programs.

(Hell NO! Punishing wealth creators while creating more progressive indoctrination centers for young children is not a great idea).

Requires multistate businesses to calculate their California income tax liability based on the percentage of their sales in California. Repeals existing law giving multistate businesses an option to choose a tax liability formula that provides favorable tax treatment for businesses with property and payroll outside California. Dedicates $550 million annually for five years from anticipated increase in revenue for the purpose of funding projects that create energy efficiency and clean energy jobs in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Approximately $500 million in additional state General Fund revenues in 2012-13 and $1 billion each year thereafter from requiring a single sales factor formula for corporate taxes, with about half of the additional annual revenues from 2013-14 through 2017-18 supporting energy efficiency and alternative energy projects. Increased Proposition 98 minimum funding guarantee for K-14 schools of roughly $225 million annually from 2012-13 through 2017-18 and by roughly $500 million each year thereafter, as a result of additional state General Fund revenues.

(NO! Wow – can a proposition possibly be more full of fail ? More taxes, more bureaucracy, and green energy projects. See Solyndra, and pass this loser up.)

Proposition 40 – Redistricting. State Senate Districts.

State Senate districts are revised every ten years following the federal census. This year, the voter-approved California Citizens Redistricting Commission revised the boundaries of the 40 Senate districts. This referendum petition, if signed by the required number of registered voters and filed with the Secretary of State, will: (1) Place the revised State Senate boundaries on the ballot and prevent them from taking effect unless approved by the voters at the next statewide election; and (2) Require court-appointed officials to set interim boundaries for use in the next statewide election.

(A tepid yes. It is hard for me to believe any redistricting scheme won’t be used to protect the power of the political elite of both parties. But I so WANT to BELIEVE).

Prop 40: Your GOP Donations At Work – YES
This is a monument to the stupidity of some Republican Party leaders, who spent nearly $2 million of party funds to qualify – and then drop – this referendum to overturn the Senate reapportionment because several state senators didn’t like their new districts. They had hoped to run in their old seats, but after qualifying the initiative found out they couldn’t anyway. A “Yes” vote affirms that the new non-partisan Citizens Redistricting Commission works.

I appreciate the commentary regarding the 2012 California Propositions. One thought regarding Prop 40 and redistricting for State Senate districts; let’s challenage Sims vs. Reynolds and pass a State Constitutional amendment to elect (2) State Senators to represent each County as is done in the U.S Senate.

I have gotten so skeptical of politicians. This was truly a Golden State when I arrived in 83′. Great jobs, east to get building and business permits. We thrived. Now, the fat pigs in Sacramento have ruined it for everyone. Now, we scrape to get by. I (like DJM) have stopped funding almost everything. If the politicians can’t get your money honestly, they’ll pay an attorney to word the ballot to fool you, and then advertise it on TV with crying children and violin music. If the next ballot measure said it was funding “my family” I’d vote against it. I was gullible back in the “pay at the pump” days, and the “short term educations bonds” (that were amortized over 20+ years) and did nothing for the schools. That party’s over.

NOW, it’s a matter of self preservation. I raised my family here and now we are starting to talk about the future elsewhere, as all of these Propositions that we couldn’t live without, have left us with no future hope for municipal fiscal survival in CA. Meanwhile Sacramento got fat. As far as my family and I are concerned, California will have to look somewhere else for their slush. I’m tapped out.

California made the same mistake the Feds made. When the loyal long-term, lawful taxpayers are out of money everything eventually grinds to a halt. I’m starting to hear a grinding sound.